As an academic professional working with students, it's always rewarding to see their progress and improvement. One area that has seen significant advancements is the treatment of anterior open bites using lingual spurs. A recent systematic review titled Can lingual spurs alter the oral health-related quality of life during anterior open bite interceptive treatment? provides valuable insights that can help practitioners refine their skills and improve patient outcomes.
The study, published in the Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics, investigates the impact of lingual spurs on the oral health-related quality of life of children and adolescents during anterior open bite treatment. The review includes five studies that met the eligibility criteria, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of using lingual spurs in orthodontic treatment.
Key Findings
The review found that lingual spurs can have an initial negative impact on oral health-related quality of life. However, this impact is typically transient. The main findings include:
- Initial discomfort in speech and chewing, which tends to subside within a few weeks.
- Some psychological and physical negative reactions, which are generally temporary.
- Better acceptance of bonded lingual spurs compared to conventional spurs during functions like chewing and eating.
Implementing the Research
As a practitioner, you can implement the findings of this research in several ways:
- Patient Education: Inform patients and their guardians about the initial discomfort and the transient nature of the negative impacts.
- Monitoring and Support: Provide close monitoring and support during the initial phase of treatment to help manage any discomfort or psychological impacts.
- Choosing the Right Spurs: Consider using bonded lingual spurs, as they tend to be better accepted by patients.
Encouraging Further Research
While the current evidence is promising, it is based on a limited number of studies with varying levels of bias. There is a need for well-conducted randomized clinical trials to provide more definitive evidence. As an academic professional, you can contribute to this field by conducting further research or encouraging your colleagues to do so.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Can lingual spurs alter the oral health-related quality of life during anterior open bite interceptive treatment? A systematic review.
